Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The latest exhibition at Winterthur is Harbor & Home: Furniture of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850, which opened Saturday. On display are 84 pieces of furniture, and more than 100 paintings, prints, historical photographs and other items drawn from 50 public and private collections. Lenders include The Met & Old Sturbridge Village, plus many smaller institutions throughout southeastern Massachusetts.

Isn't this scrimshaw dressing box perfect? It's attributed to whaling captain Richard Luce of Vineyard Haven, and was probably made at sea between 1830 and 1850.

Kudos to Captain Luce for crafting this beautiful piece while sailing over the Atlantic's rolling waves. Just the thought is making me a little seasick...

Monday, March 23, 2009

I wake up early on weekdays. I love reading e-mail, walking the dog, and having my first cup of coffee watching the sun come up.

Weekends are different. And Nigella Feasts is on a very short list of things {w/estate sales, Wimbledon, Metrolina, and dog} that get me out of bed before 8:00 a.m. But I can't help it. Her show is warm & cozy, like a big hug. And I adore her Web site as well. Here's what's cooking today...

Sunday, March 15, 2009

I love Great Britain. Pringle cashmere, Harvey Nichols, Number Sixteen, Ab Fab, PG Tips, aran sweaters, Lush, Aston Martin, Boots Apothecary, Tate Britain, St. Martin in the Fields, The Conran Shop, Mary Poppins... And on days like today, when it rains cats & dogs in the Carolinas, making huge puddles & kicking up red clay, I head to the mud room for my black Wellies -- the classic Scottish rubber boot.

But when I saw the original Hunter Wellingtons in Silver @ WinkNYC, I had to re-think my blind love of all things UK. Silver. Really. Not sure even Trinny & Susannah could make it work.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Of all the rooms in my house, I love my bedroom most. I designed the headboard to add punch to those All White walls, and the tufted cotton velvet upholstery is a soft support for bedtime reading. Nothing relaxes me more than settling under freshly laundered, egyptian cotton sheets with a wonderful, aromatic candle flickering on the night-table.

Jane Scott Hodges, founder of Leontine Linens, originally opened her New Orleans shop in 1996 to showcase the Eleanor Beard Studio's artisinal work. Jane offers very special products based on her belief that one’s linens should be a reflection and extension of personal taste and lifestyle. I first laid eyes on a Leontine Linens sham in Town & Country. The hand-worked monogram on crisp, white cotton appealed to my love of both timeless quality and a 'less is more' aesthetic. I immediately ordered a pair of my very own in Althea and fell in love.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

A year ago I was shopping in New York and came upon a tiny shop tucked into a snug SoHo side street. Full of fabulous textiles. It was Purl Patchwork.

At PP, 100% cotton fabrics are displayed floor to ceiling, all colors and styles, artfully arranged to make selection the easiest thing in the world. But here's the thing... finding wonderful fabric has never been my issue. I adoreall textiles -- new calico, old ticking, crazy quilts, antique toile, even ric-rac.

It's sewing that scares the *&%! out of me. Ever since 7th grade Home Ec and an unfortunate reversible bermuda bag cover incident.

So it took a year. And I'm not sure if it was vintage ticking at The American Antiques Show or a documentary on the Quilts of Gee's Bend that pushed me over the edge. But last week I finally bought a new Janome and some Liberty fabric.